Marko Koers Advances At Summer Olympics
September 26, 2000 | Men's Track & Field
Sept. 26, 2000
Sydney, Australia -
University of Illinois alumnus Marko Koers has advanced to the semifinals of the men's 1,500 meter run at the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney. Koers, who is running for his home country The Netherlands, placed eighth in the third of three qualifying heats in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:39.16. Koers, who posted the 14th fastest time overall in the preliminaries, is one of 24 athletes to qualify for the semifinals which will be run Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. Sydney time.
Koers is scheduled to run in the second of two semifinal sections. Athletes in Koers' section include Hicham El Guerrouj, the 1,500 meter world record holder from Morocco, and the United States' Gabe Jennings.
Koers was a four-year letterwinner for the Illini from 1992-1996. He was a three time NCAA Champion, claiming titles in the 800 meters (indoors) in 1993 and the 1,500 meters in 1993 and 1996. He is the all-time Illinois and Big Ten record holder in the 1,500 meters, running 3:33.05 at the 1996 NCAA Championships.
